Assembly for Holding Game Pieces and a Flexible Game Mat

ABSTRACT

A carrier assembly for holding a game that is played with game elements on a game play field. The carrier assembly has a cylindrical case for holding the game elements needed to play the game. The cylindrical case defines at least one internal compartment sized to receive the various game elements therein. A flexible mat is provided that has a game play field printed on its surface. The flexible mat has a length that enables the flexible mat to wrap around the cylindrical case at least once. One end of the flexible mat can be selectively attached to the cylindrical case with connectors. This enables the flexible mat to be readily wound around the cylindrical case. Once wound, the game play field and game pieces are held in a compact assembly that is easily transported.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to carrier assemblies that are designed to hold and transport a game board along with the game pieces, cards and other elements that are used to play a game on the game board. The present invention also relates to carrier assemblies that have a core structure and a flexible mat that wraps around the core structure when not in use.

2. Prior Art Description

There exist a great many games that are played on flat game boards. For instance, there are games like checkers and chess where game pieces are moved around a flat game board. There are many card games, such as blackjack, baccarat and a variety of fantasy character games that are played using different decks of cards and game boards of various designs. In card games, the game boards typically outline the proper fields to place, draw and deal cards from the various play decks. Also there are many games, such as Monopoly®, that use both decks of cards and play pieces on a flat game board.

In the toy industry, it is not unusual to sell travel versions of popular games. These games are taken on long car trips and the like. In the travel version of a game, the various parts of the game are often held in a small box or case. This enables the game to be easily transported. The pieces are typically made smaller and the hard game board is replaced with a printed flexible game board. In this manner, the game board or game field can be folded into a small size and stored in a relatively small travel case with the cards and/or game pieces needed to play the game.

However, in many games, the game plays better if the game board or game field is both smooth and flat. When a game board or game field is printed on folded cloth, the cloth rarely lays fully flat when it is unfolded for use. Rather, the cloth commonly contains fold lines, wrinkles, bulges and other warped areas that cause the play surface to become contoured. This prevents the cards and game pieces from resting well on the game substrate during play.

A need therefore exists for a carrier that can carry the pieces of a game and its game play field without folding or otherwise deforming the game play field. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a carrier assembly for holding a game that is played with game elements on a game play field. The carrier assembly has a cylindrical case for holding the game elements needed to play the game. The game elements can be cards, tokens, game pieces, dice and the like. The cylindrical case has a length and a diameter, wherein the cylindrical case defines at least one internal compartment sized to receive the various game elements therein.

A flexible mat is provided that has a game play field printed on its surface. The flexible mat has a length long enough to enable the flexible mat to wrap around the cylindrical case at least once. One end of the flexible mat can be selectively attached to the cylindrical case with connectors. This enables the flexible mat to be readily wound around the cylindrical case when not in use. Once wound around the cylindrical case, the game play field and game pieces are held in a compact assembly that is easily transported. This is done without having to put folds or seams in the game play field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a carrier assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a carrier assembly configured to retain tokens; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a carrier assembly configured to carry bulky playing pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention carrier assembly can be embodied in many ways to carry a wide array of different games, only three exemplary embodiments have been selected for illustration and discussion. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a carrier assembly 10 is shown for a card game. The card game can be any card game that is played with decks of cards upon a game play field. The card game can be a traditional card game, such as Blackjack, that uses traditional cards, or a specialized game that uses specialized decks of cards. The carrier assembly 10 has two primary components. These components include a cylindrical case 12 and a flexible mat 14. The cylindrical case 12 has a diameter D1 and a length L1. The flexible mat 14 has a width W2 that is preferably equal in length to the length L1 of the cylindrical case 12. However, other widths are functional and can be used.

The flexible mat 14 has a top surface 16. The graphics of a particular game play field 18 are printed onto the top surface 16. The graphics of the game play field 18 are for the particular game to be played. For example, if the game to be played is Blackjack, then a Blackjack game play field will be printed on the top surface 16 of the flexible mat 14. The flexible mat 14 also has a bottom surface 19. The graphics of a second gaming surface may be printed on the bottom surface 19. In this manner, the flexible mat 14 can be flipped to play different games. However, the use of a reversible flexible mat is optional.

The flexible mat 14 is preferably made of neoprene or a similar synthetic foam rubber. The flexible mat 14 has thickness of at least 1/32 of an inch so as to lay flat under the forces of its own weight. The length L2 of the flexible mat 14 is at least 4 times the diameter D1 of the cylindrical case 12 so it is long enough to fully wrap around the cylindrical case 12.

Connectors 20, 22 may be affixed to the cylindrical case 12 and to the flexible mat 14 proximate one edge. The connectors 20, 22 can be magnets, snaps, pads of hook and loop material, or any other mechanical connector. The connectors 20, 22 are used to temporarily affix the flexible mat 14 to the exterior of the cylindrical case 12 when the flexible mat 14 is wound around the cylindrical case 12. The connectors 20, 22 are of the type that enable the flexible mat 14 to be easily and rapidly detached from the cylindrical case 12 when readied for use.

The cylindrical case 12 is cylindrical in shape, having a generally round cross-sectional profile. Although a cylindrical case is preferred, it will be understood that other oblong and polygonal shapes can also be used. The cylindrical case 12 is hollow and defines one or more internal compartments 24, 26, 28. In the shown embodiment, the cylindrical case 12 defines three internal compartments 24, 26, 28 within its structure. The internal compartments 24, 26, 28 are shaped and sized to hold the game pieces, cards, and other game elements needed to play the selected game upon the game play field 18 printed on the flexible mat 14. In the shown embodiment, each of the three internal compartments 24, 26, 28 within the cylindrical case 12 are shaped and sized to hold a different deck of cards 30, 31, 32.

Each of the internal compartments 24, 26, 28 has an open top 34 that enables the decks of cards 30, 31, 32 to be placed within, and removed from, that compartment. Lid elements 36, 38 are provided for each of the internal compartments 24, 26, 28. The lid elements 36, 38 are attached to the cylindrical case 12 with hinge connections 40. The hinge connections 40 enable the lid elements 36, 38 to be selectively closed over the open tops 34 of the internal compartments 24, 26, 28. It will therefore be understood that when the decks of cards 30, 31, 32 are placed into the internal compartments 24, 26, 28 and the lid elements 36, 38 are rotated to a closed position, the decks of cards 30, 31, 32 become fixed in position within the internal compartments 24, 26, 28. The decks of cards 30, 31, 32, therefore, cannot be removed merely by flipping or rotating the cylindrical case 12. The only way to remove any of the decks of the cards 30, 31, 32 from any of the internal compartments 24, 26, 28 is to rotate the lid element 36, 38 into an open position.

In the illustrated embodiment, two lid elements 36, 38 are used to cover each of the internal compartments 24, 26, 28. It will be understood that a single larger lid element could be used in place of the smaller two lid elements 36, 38. It will also be understood that the lid elements 36, 38 have a curvature that matches the overall cylindrical curvature of the cylindrical case 12. In this manner, when the lid elements 36, 38 are closed, the cylindrical case 12 can roll as if it were a full cylinder.

In the shown embodiment, the three decks of cards 30, 31, 32 are placed within the three internal compartments 24, 26, 28. The lid elements 36, 38 are then rotated to their closed positions. This traps the decks of cards 30, 31, 32 within the internal compartments 24, 26, 28. The connectors 20 on the flexible mat 14 are interconnected with the connectors 22 on the exterior of the cylindrical case 12. The cylindrical case 12 is then rolled over the flexible mat 14 until the flexible mat 14 is fully wound around the cylindrical case 12, therein completing the carrier assembly 10. The carrier assembly 10 can then be engaged with a traditional mat carry strap, such as those used to carry yoga mats, or a bag carry case, such as those used to carry umbrellas.

To play a game, the flexible mat 14 is unwound from the cylindrical case 12 and the connectors 20, 22 are disengaged from one another. The flexible mat 14 is laid flat with the graphics of the game play field 18 facing upwardly. The lid elements 36, 38 over the internal compartments 24, 26, 28 are opened and the decks of cards 30, 31, 32 are removed. The decks of cards 30, 31, 32 are then used to play a game on the flexible mat 14.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of a carrier assembly 50 is disclosed. In this embodiment, at least one internal compartment 52 is defined within the cylindrical case 51. The internal compartment 52 is sized and shaped to hold round tokens 54, such as checker pieces or gambling chips. The round tokens 54 are retained in the internal compartment 52 by a hinged lid 56 that can be selectively opened and closed to access the round tokens 54. A flexible mat 14 can be attached and wound around the cylindrical case 51 in the same manner as was previously described.

Referring to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of a carrier assembly 60 is disclosed. In this embodiment, at least one internal compartment 62 is defined within the cylindrical case 60. The internal compartment 62 is widened and is sized and shaped to hold bulky playing pieces 64, such as chess pieces. The bulky playing pieces 64 are retained in the internal compartment 62 by a hinged lid 66 that can be selectively opened and closed to access the bulky playing pieces 64. A flexible mat 14 can be attached and wound around the cylindrical case 60 in the same manner as was previously described.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. For instance, internal compartments of different shapes can be combined in the same cylindrical case. As such, a cylindrical case can hold a deck of cards, tokens, and/or playing pieces. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. 

1. A carrier assembly for holding a game that is played with game elements on a game play field, said carrier assembly comprising: a cylindrical case having a length, a diameter, and a exterior, wherein said cylindrical case defines a first internal compartment and a second internal compartment, wherein said first internal compartment and said second internal compartment are sized to receive some of said game elements therein, said first internal compartment having a first open top that enables direct access to said first internal compartment through said exterior of said cylindrical case, and said second internal compartment has a second open top that enables direct access to said first internal compartment through said exterior of said cylindrical case; a first lid joined to said cylindrical case with a first hinged connection, wherein said first lid selectively covers said first open top and controls access to said first internal compartment; a second lid joined to said cylindrical case with a second hinged connection, wherein said second lid selectively covers said second open top and controls access to said second internal compartment; a flexible mat having said game play field printed thereon, wherein said flexible mat has a length long enough to enable said flexible mat to wrap around said cylindrical case at least once, therein covering both said first lid and said second lid, therein preventing said first lid and said second from being opened; and a detachable connector for connecting a section of said flexible mat to said exterior of said cylindrical case.
 2. The carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first internal compartment is sized and shaped to receive and retain a deck of cards.
 3. The carrier assembly according to claim 1, said second internal compartment is sized and shaped to receive and retain said game elements, wherein said game elements are selected from a group consisting of cards, tokens, and playing pieces.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible mat has a width generally equal to said length of said cylindrical case.
 6. (canceled)
 7. A carrier assembly for holding elements of a game that are played upon a game play field, said carrier assembly comprising: an elongated case that defines a first internal compartment sized to receive a first deck of card therein, and a second internal compartment sized to receive a second deck of cards therein, wherein said first internal compartment and said second internal compartments are accessible through lid elements that are hinged to said elongated case; a flexible mat having said game play field printed thereon, wherein said flexible mat is wrapped around said elongated case and covers said lid elements, therein preventing said lid elements from being accessed until said flexible mat is removed from said elongated case.
 8. The carrier assembly according to claim 7, wherein a section of said flexible mat is affixed to said elongated case with detachable connectors.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The carrier assembly according to claim 7, further including a third internal compartment that is sized and shaped to receive and retain said elements of said game, wherein said elements are selected from a group consisting of tokens, and playing pieces.
 11. A carrier assembly for holding a game that is played with a deck of cards and game pieces on a game play field, said carrier assembly comprising: an elongated case having a length, wherein said elongated case defines a first internal compartment that is sized to receive said deck of cards, and a second internal compartment that is sized to receive said game pieces, wherein said first internal compartment is accessible through a first opening in said elongated case and second internal compartment is accessible through a second opening in said elongated case; a first hinged lid that selectively covers said first opening and a second hinged lid that selectively covers said second opening; a flexible mat having said game play field printed thereon, and connectors for selectively connecting a section of said flexible mat to said cylindrical case, wherein said flexible mat wraps around said elongated case and covers both said first hinged lid and said second hinged lid.
 12. The carrier assembly according to claim 11, wherein said flexible mat has a length long enough to enable said flexible mat to wrap around said elongated case at least once.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The carrier assembly according to claim 11, wherein said flexible mat has a width generally equal to said length of said cylindrical case.
 15. (canceled) 